Articles

If I could pick a surprise breakthrough album less than halfway through this year, without question that esteemed designation would be afforded to Canadian icon Molly Johnson. In one fell swoop, the Juno award winning vocalist has traded her...

When I think Chief of Police I think of Marge Gunderson in the movie Fargo portrayed by Oscar winner Frances McDormand and not a smooth soul saxophonist from South Florida! Former police officer Gary Palmer decided to retire from the force and...

I'm always intrigued when a new singer/songwriter enters the smooth groove scene. Who is she? Where did she come from? Who are her influences? What does she look like (yes, I am that shallow)? These are all the questions I asked when I first...

It is in the rarest of occurrences that an artist will afford you a special preview of their upcoming work, well before the first single is released, and long before the CD is factory pressed and issued to media and fans. But that was a special...

Sophisticated soul. That's the best way to describe guitarist/producer/songwriter Nils' sound. It's been 13 years since Nils first came on to the scene with his hit, 'Pacific Coast Highway', a breezy cool cut that transported us to the famous...

You never know how anyone gets their start, do you? I love finding out and Marion Meadows' story is a good one. Picture this: he was standing in Grand Central Station (New York) and while waiting for a train, decided to pull out his horn and play...

In a brief period of time, Sam Smith has accomplished what many veteran artists would find unimaginable over the span of their careers. With one breakthrough album, 2014’s In The Lonely Hour, Smith captured four Grammys, three Brit Awards, a Juno...

Known for working with the 80’s/90’s Canadian band Frozen Ghost in the studio and on the road - musician Len Mizzoni has just released his debut album and is available on Spotify. He’s like most session players who gain their reputation in the...

Back in the day the boys were met with instant success. Singles like “It's Alright (This Feeling)”, “Keep The Faith” and “The Key” were monster hits in Canada. The lads even outsold funk giants Earth, Wind and Fire, both in record sales and...

Synergy: the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Synergy: the sixth and latest album in the storied and award-winning...

Al DeGregoris - Time And A Half
For the first music review of the new year, instead of starting at the beginning, I went to the final track of piano & keyboard player Al DeGregoris’s fourth album, Time and A Half. This Jeff Lorber and Nils...

I am such a huge fan of Christmas music I start playing it in early November, just so I have lots of time to hear everything. I love old standards, I love instrumentals, I love classic carols and now I love The Tenors. Christmas Together is the...

Unwrapping the celebratory new Holiday album from Dave Koz was not unlike some Christmas mornings. You open up a package and there in front of you, in this case audibly, is something you never expected, yet are the recipient of- something very...

It’s been nearly 50 years since legendary trumpeter/music mogul Herb Alpert has released a new Christmas album! His debut holiday album was released in 1968 on A&M Records but now he’s returned with 15 Christmas favourites with four tracks...

Yes he is Canadian. A national treasure. Our very own virtuoso.
But if you ever needed proof that Jesse Cook is a citizen of the world, check out this new release - Beyond Borders. What a fanciful feast of musical deliciousness! Every track...

Although one of smooth jazz’s fast rising acts are Hungarian born and bred, there is a French term that can be applied to at least attempt to describe them. That term would be je ne sais quois, because their innovative approach and...

Azul - Spanish for blue or sky blue is the major influence on guitarist Johannes Linstead’s tenth album recorded in various studios around the world including the Dominican Republic, Australia and Canada. He incorporates the lazy hazy days of...

There are very few singer/songwriters from the 70s still making relevant new music today but with the release of "Wide Open", Michael McDonald can surely count himself a member in that revered society. Sure, the guy is an icon and sure, the guy...

There are a number of defining moments in almost every artist’s career that signify a significant milestone. It could be a debut album, or it may be a top ten tune or album itself. There’s the possibility of a headlining tour is a yardstick...

Najee’s name in Arabic means “safe, friendly and affectionate”. Born Jerome Najee Rasheed in Greenwich Village and raised in Jamaica, Queens the multi instrumentalist grew up with some of the best in the industry. Mentored by jazz greats Frank...